Film viewing device



9, 1950 R. JELINEK 2,520,410-

FILM VIEWING DEVICE Filed April 8, 1946 l c 3 -1 4s r7 10 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 29, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILM VIEWING DEVICE Rudolph Jelinek, Chicago, 111. Application April s, 1946, Serial No. 660,563

Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to new and improved film viewing devices and has particular reference to a manually operable device containing an endless film provided with a series of pictures which may be consecutively viewed through a suitable lens-equipped eyepiece while the device is held by the operator in one hand and the endless film propelled by the other hand to progressively periodically move the film past the range of vision through the eyepiece.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide a simple device of the above-described character which comprises a casing enclosing a circuitous path for an endless strip of film containing a series of adjacently disposed pictures, such as scenic or panoramic views or illustrations of an advertising nature or any other desired images adapted to be displayed in color or in black and white character and which device is provided with manually operable means for shifting the film, selectively in opposite directions, to successively present the series of the film images for viewing by the eye of the operator through a suitable eyepiece mounted on one side of the casing-enclosed circuitous film path.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a device of the above-described character in a form to constitute a gift or souvenir preferably in the configuration of a key and which device when so constructed in key form renders my invention suitable for souvenir purposes and for presentation as The Key to the City on various municipal and public occasions; the keepsake value of such key-shaped device being enhanced by a series of views of the city in which it is given or sold as a souvenir displayed on the film within the loop of the key; the key form of the device also facilitating the use thereof by providing in the stem. part of the key a convenient handle whereby the same may be held in one hand of the operator while the other hand is available for operating the film shifting mechanism.

Another feature of my invention resides in the provision of means whereby the 'film may be shifted a distance equal to the length of one of the film frames or pictures by each limited movement of a film-shifting button or lever and the film-shifting mechanism being carried within the stem part of the key-shaped structure.

Still another feature of my invention is to provide a device of the above-described character which shall be simple in construction and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture" so as to be suitable for sale as a souvenir or to be given away as an advertising medium.

Other features and objects of my invention will become apparent from. a perusal of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein preferred exemplifications of my invention are illustrated.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates a side elevation of a device embodying my invention; the device having the configuration of a key;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. 1; the view being taken from the side of the eyepiece;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and slightly enlarged to show more clearly the details;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and also enlarged to show the details;

Figs. 5 and 6 show respectively end and side views of a color screen;

Fig. 7 illustrates a side view of the casing in the form of the loop part of a key with the side cover plate removed to show a manually operable film shifting device; the view being taken on 7 line 'l'! of Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on line 88 of Fig. 7 V

Fig. 9 is a slightly enlarged side view of the film shifting device shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and showing the movements of the film engaging pawl;

Fig. 10 is a view of the inner portion of the key loop casing near the key stem showing a modified form of a film-shifting device; and

Fig. 11 illustrates the endless film strip.

In one exemplification of my invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, I show the device in the preferred configuration of a, key comprising well-known parts such as the loop [2, the stem I3 and the bit M, however, the invention must obviously be considered in its broader aspect, namely, as being embodied solely in a casing of loop form providing an endless channel for an endless film. in the form of an endless loop movable in a circuitous path in said channel, in fact, a device consisting simply of a loop-formed casing could be manufactured and sold as a slightly less expensive type of device than the key-shaped type shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, although the key-shaped type has some advantages as pointed out in the hereinabove stated objects of my invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 to l, the casing which conoperative position of the endless film is shown by the dot andidash line 22.in-Figs,1,,7, 9 and 10.-

3 stitutes the loop l2 of the key consists of circuitous channel-like or trough-shaped body having a side wall l5 formed, preferably integrally with a pair of transversely spaced inner and outer peripheral walls, respectively designated by numerals i6 and H.

The inner wall [6 being shorter than the outer wall ii, that is, terminating in a plane disposed inwardly-of the removable coyerplate l8 which is of similar configuration asthat-ofnthe :cir cuitous film compartment 59 defined by the walls 63, it, ii and cover plate 28 which is preferably; provided with an outer inwardly disposed .flange..

18* to reenforce the cover along its outer peripheral edge and which flange is adapted-t ii the inner face of wall The flange i8 is parallel to and close fitting against the wall I? to frictionally retain thecolleiryand the flange l8 terminates at spaced ends where, the-extensions i l and l begin to. parallel each other, as shown more clearly in Fig. I.

The inn r. wall is terminates at the spaced ends liiFtndllfih to provide an opening therebetween for,the-filrn--shiiting mechanism, I he outer wall l1 terminates in spaced apart parallel. extensions l'l and l which fit into recesses. l3. in the upper end of the stem 13 and a rivet EQ-isconvenie'ritly shownsas curing the-stem I3 to and between the. asing wall extensions Ha and .11. Obyious-,,

ly, in an non-key type .of ,loop -or oval-shaped casing the outer wall it would be continuous except at the film-,viewingportion where the eyepiece, generally designated by numeralZL'. is Ql R v the-key design shown, theloop l2, ispreferably in the form of a three-leaf clover shape-to reduce iilm wall contact surfaces to the .three ;.wall;portion 16 I61 andlfi and the The film 22 shown more clearly. in Fig.1 11; is prgvided with a series'of pictures. iin-;blacl and whit or colored images ofthe pictorialtype or 9. fli r: I de i d and l e Pr i w h i w V usual spaced; sprocket-engageable perforations 2-3.

The film-shifting mechanism. consists. ofa 13 91??? ,9 ro at l in o n inthe film compartment l9. The sprocket hubQgllais providedwith circumferentially spaced teeth 24 adap ed-li nsees in h -s a pe orati n -23: in it fi m 3 T s re etr r a p n 2 is formed at one end with an enlarged head, 25

andathe opposite end. of the pin; is decreased in wall l5- and to assist retainment ofthe film 22 in positive continuous operative contact. withthe Pf95ket 2 a light-Weight leaf spring .25 is provided within the compartment is.

' The leaf springZE is secured at one end thereof asby a rivet 21 to the outencasing wall l1 and the freeend of the spring is preferably provided with a rounded corrugation zli whichjcontinuously contacts the film 22 whereb the leaf spring 25 constitutes resilient means for retaining the c rel l' 'carrying a suitable magnifying lens-21 d meter-and headed as at-25 1to thereb Q rigidl-y support t'heupin and sprocket in an opening in-55 4 also axially aligned with the openings 28 and 29. To facilitate the quick removal of the cover I8 for inserting into or removing the film 22 from the casing compartment [9, the cover i8 is pro- 5 vided with an integral arcuate extension l8b which extends inwardly of the opening in the key loop [2 and a very small distance from the outer face of the arcuate wall portion lfi and which extension provided light-admitting; opening lfi l alsoaxiallylaligned withIthe openings 28 and When the outer end of the extension 13 which projects beyond the outer face of the casing wall l5,.is pressed inwardly by the thumb of the operator-user, in the direction indicated by the arrow Eig.,.;;1, the cover plate is is thereby slightly tilted from its closed position to facilitate its complete detachment from the casing.

he; extension it also functions as a retainer for a flexible plastic color screen 3i which, if the =,us er so .elects,, may be inserted into frictionallysupported position between the extension ifl 'and una re. wall. portion lfi jto provide means for viewing thefilrn images in color and for this purpose the .color screen 3! is preferably provided ,,With a plurality of, differently color-tinted sections ,suchasfor example, the red or pink tinted section 3H, the blue. tinted section 3i and the green tinted section 3l and, obviously; the colors may be varied in; shade and their relative area em -i The color screen 3| may be, manually adjusted relativelyftothe image being viewed. If; for example, a sky andwater scene is being viewed, the screens lni'ayibe so manually positioned that the r.ed lnted section covers the sky portion or" the film abovef the horizon while the blue tinted section covers the water below the horizon. Similarly, in viewing ablack and while picture a pastoralscene showing ,skyand wooded earth, the

color. screen may be so adjusted that the blue tinted sectioncover's the sky and the green tinted covers the earth portion of the picture.

Thepperation of the device shown in Figs. 1 to r 4, inclusive, canbereadilyperforrned by the operatorguser by simply holdingthe stern 10: the '-shapedstructure in one hand while the other fi mn wss ma him the r k 24 .11 cause the, endless film to shift, in either direction to. successively present the images 'on theiilrn within. the icons of'the Ey piece 2! while "th fpperatorgus,er views same with either eye th r illmu InIFigs 8 and 9, I show manually operable li fi lisf r Shifting the film just one name or "pict e' at eachoperation of a depressible buttdriglike actuator :32 and such means consisting ofe leverj, 3 3 offangular cross-section pivotally mounted; as alfnli l, Withinv a hollow portion of stem partformed by the extended wall portions .l a n.d li the cover plate 18 being also sirnilarlyl extendedwto. cover the mechanism in the stem partl The actuator 32 consists of a round-headed 5, pingpreferablyof wood, having a stem tfimova- "blewithin an opening in the extended wall portion ll A screw 35 is'loosely carried in an opening in" one leg of the lever 33*and its threaded end is secured in the inner end of the stem 35." The head of the screw 3515 provided with an integral stud 36* about one end of which is coiled the-coil spring 3"i ofwhich theopposite 'endis in abutment with bulged wall portion ll- Thespring 3l-normally retains the actuator 32% its outwa-rdposition andat the same time retains the lever 33 in its normal inoperative position as shown in Fig. 7.

Carried on the upper free end of lever 33 is a pawl 38 pivotally mounted on the lever at 39, having downwardly disposed extension 38 engaged by the free end of a leaf spring 4|! anchored at the opposite end about the pivot pin 34; the spring 48 acting to retain the pawl 38 in normal operative position relatively to its supporting lever 33.

The film 22 is mounted for movement through an elongated channel member 4| whose passage is defined by the three side walls of the body of such member. The upper wall 4| being shorter than the bottom wall 4| which spans the space between the spaced wall portions H nd ll and such extended bottom wall 4| being provided with a longitudinal slot 4| in which the pointed operative end 38 of the pawl 38 is operatively movable.

To shift the film 22 across the field of vision through the eyepiece 2|, the actuator button 32 is depressed, as by the index finger of the users right-hand. The inward movement of the actuator stem 35 against the pressure of spring 37 causes a swinging movement of the upper end of lever 33 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 7, whereby the pointed end 38 of the pawl 38 is brought into engagement within one of the film perforations 23 to thereby shift the film a distance equal to the length of one of the film images or pictures.

When theactuator 32 is released, the spring '57 moves the actuator outwardly back into inoperative position and at the same time causes the lever to swing into its inoperative position and, during such return movement of the lever 33, the pawl 38 is tilted about its pivot 39 moving the pointed end out of the perforation '23 so that its angular end face freely slides along the under side of the film back into inoperative position. These operations of the lever 33 and pawl 38 are illustrated by the positions shown in broken lines in Fig. 9 wherein the positions of the lever and pawl designated by respectively 33 and 38 shows these elements just after the film has been shifted a distance of one picture; the position of the pawl designated by 38 is the tilted position of the pawl 38 while being retracted from the film perforation 23.

To insure any possible return movement of the film during the return of the lever 33 and pawl 38 into normal inoperative position, a one-way stop dog is provided which consists of a tapered tooth 42, carried on the free end of a light leaf spring 43 which is riveted to the overlapping walls 4| and H; the tapered tooth 42 being disposed within one of the film perforations 23 after each shift of the film 22 to prevent its reverse movement.

Other various ways and means for shifting the film 22 a distance of one picture upon each operation of an actuator may be provided, as for example, the modified film-shifting means illustrated in Fig. wherein the shifting arm consists of a resilient blade carrying at its forward operative end a tapered pusher 45 engageable within a film perforation 23 to thereby shift the film a distance of one picture when moved by its handle 49 which is rigidly secured to the blade arm 44 and the reduced neck 49 of which handle is slidable in a slot I! in wall H. The shifting arm 44 being automatically returned into inoperative position by a coil spring 46 one end of which is connected to the rear end 6. of the shifting arm 44 and its. other end secured as to a rivet 41 in wall ll.

A one-way stop dog 42 carried on the leaf spring 43 is also provided in the modification shown in Fig. 10.

In the modified shifting means shown in Fig. 10 the channel member 4| shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 9 is not employed and, in lieu of same, a film-supporting bridge plate 48 is secured to spaced portions of the inner casing wall H3 and this wall 48 acts to retain the film while it is engaged by the taper pusher 45; the angular rear wall of the pusher 45 permitting the pusher 45 to slide out of engagement with the edge of the perforation 23 when same is retracted by the coil spring 46.

While the hereinabove device is described as adapted to or operable with a commonly known translucent flexible plastic film, such as for example, a photographic strip film, I do not wish to be understood as limiting my device to the use of such particular strips of translucent material, as obviously, the device is readily operable with any other strip of translucent material having black and white or colored pictures or images imposed thereon in any suitable manner as, for example, pictures or images litographically or photographically imposed upon a thin translucent strip of paper or parchment and therefore my use of the term film in the claims is definitive of any suitable flexible translucent material in strip form.

Various changes and modifications may readily be made in the herein illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention by those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A film viewing device comprising a casing of multi-arcuate contiguously arranged channelshaped portions forming a circuitous configuration in side view defining and encompassing an open area within the inner side of the circuitous configuration, said casing having an inner, an outer, a side and a cover wall which between them define a closed circuitous chamber, an endless translucent film comprised of a plurality of individual pictures, said film being positioned for longitudinal movement in said chamber, said casing inner wall being so arcuately formed as to provide spaced outwardly directed arcuate supporting surfaces for said film, said casing inner and outer walls each having an opening therein in horizontal register with the opening in the other, an eye-piece mounted in said outer wall opening, said film being interposed between said eye-piece inner end. and the inner wall opening opposite the latter, and means for moving said film in said casing in the direction of its length to selectivel bring individual pictures thereon into focal ali nment with said eye-piece and the opening in said inner wall for viewing while illuminated by light entering said inner wall opening through the open area between the circuitous portions of said casing.

2. A film viewing device comprising a casing of circuitous centrally open configuration having a side wall and laterally spaced inner and outer walls defining with said side wall a circuitous passage, each of said inner and outer walls having an opening therein aligned transversely with that in the. other, a transparent film having a plurality of images thereon positioned for movement in said passage, an eyepiece mounted on the outer wall in focalaalignment withsaid open-jings, means supported Ont-said: casing: adaptedntobe-manually actuated to move said past said openingsto successively: bring the images on said film into focal register with said eyepiece; and a, .cover removablyi supported on the free edgesof said inner and outer walls; said cover having an extension disposed adjacentito. thexinner Wall and provided with a' light-radniittinguopening lax ially aligned with saidwpairnf openings.

3. A film viewing device aszset forth inclaim -2 wherein said extension is'formed integrally. with said cover and is'disposed closely adjacent zto the exposed face of theinner Jone-of saidwalls-for frictionally holding. a color: screen ibetween said exposed face and said extension. 7

4. A film viewing device-as.settforth-inrclaims 2 and 3 wherein said color screen: is fiexible and has a plurality of differently color-tinte'd areas and is manually adjustable..trelatively to 'athe image on the fi1m.in focal 1 register withwsaid opening in said extension. to. thereby present one or more of said color-tinted areasof; the screen within the range of saidfltransversely .aligned openings.

5.- A film viewing device comprisin'gixa casing of circuitous centrally 'open configuration having a side Wall and :la'terally spaced' inner. and outer walls defining with said-sideu'wallaacircuitous a: pas e-eachcre mner and ou e Wa a ing an opening therein aligned transversely with that in the othena transparent endless film provided-:wi-th a plurality of longitudinally spaced perforations :and having a pluralityof. images thereon and positioned for movement in said passage, an eyepiece mounted on the outer wall in focal alignmentwith said openings, a manually rotatable, sprocket partially projecting through an opening in the inner oneof said walls for manual operative engagement thereat, said sprocket being engageable with said perforations to move said film selectively in opposite directions in response to rotations of said sprocket, and a-cover removablymounted on said inner and outer walls.

RUDOLPH JELINEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record-inthe fil'e o'f this patent? UNITED STATES PA'I'E'NTS 

